ICAD 2026 Preview: Moving the Apprenticeship Degree Forward Through Partnership
Release Date: 08/03/2026
ICAD 2026: Insights From Oxford – Part Two
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode of Apprenticeship 2.0, guest host Dr. Anastasia Wickham, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Reach University, leads interviews with leaders at the 2026 convening of the International Center for the Apprenticeship Degree at the University of Oxford. Guests include Taikein Cooper, President and CEO of the Richmond Ed Fund; Dr. Graeme Atherton, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Regional Engagement at the University of West London, Vice Principal of Ruskin College, Oxford, and the Director of the World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN); Dr. Gavin Lind, CEO of the...
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ICAD 2026: Insights From Oxford – Part One
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode of Apprenticeship 2.0, guest host Dr. Anastasia Wickham, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Reach University, leads interviews with leaders at the 2026 convening of the International Center for the Apprenticeship Degree at the University of Oxford. Guests include Scott Cheney, CEO of Credential Engine; Colleen Connolly, Freelance Journalist and Contributor to Work Shift; Dr. Lisa McIntyre-Hite, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN); and Claire Viall, Vice President of Public Policy,...
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Building on an Innovative Workforce Strategy in Rural Colorado
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe chats with Mark Gregory, CTE Coordinator at Colorado River BOCES, and Jeff Barratt, President and CEO of Associated General Contractors of Colorado. Together, they discuss rural workforce development in western Colorado, workforce challenges in rural communities and apprenticeship as a local talent strategy, skilled trades career pathways, employer-led apprenticeship and training partnerships, how the Opportunity Now grant has helped to bolster career opportunities in rural Colorado, Project SCALE and construction talent pipeline development, apprenticeship pathway...
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ICAD 2026 Preview: Moving the Apprenticeship Degree Forward Through Partnership
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe chats with Dr. Holly Smith, Executive Director and Vice President of Apprenticeship Degree Design at the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree, and Matthew McKenney, President and CEO of JobForward. Together, they discuss the partnership between NCAD and JobForward, why the partnership makes sense and why now is the right time for it, reflections from the International Convening for the Apprenticeship Degree (ICAD) 2025 and what to look forward to at ICAD 2026, how listeners can work with NCAD...
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Crafting an Innovative and Expansive Workforce Strategy in Colorado
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe chats with Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and Andrew Sutliff, Apprentice at CoorsTek. Together, they discuss the role of economic development initiatives in strengthening Colorado’s workforce; Colorado’s Opportunity Now initiative and investment in apprenticeships, higher education, and skills-based learning; innovative workforce initiatives that connect learners with in-demand careers; expanding apprenticeship opportunities across urban and rural...
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Building Stronger Foundations for Skilled Trades Careers in Arizona
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe chats with Sidney Hawkins, Director of Apprenticeship at the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA), and Drake Williams, Apprentice for Delta Diversified Enterprises. Together, they discuss apprenticeship in Arizona and the ABA’s workforce mission; the role of apprenticeship in addressing labor shortages; building high-quality apprenticeship programs and expanding career pathways; changing perceptions of the skilled trades and engaging the next generation; Drake’s journey through work-based learning and career development; the future of...
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Inside North Carolina’s Apprenticeship Ecosystem
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe chats with Analisa Archer, Senior Director of Policy at EducationNC; Caroline Sullivan, Executive Director of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education; and Dr. Chris Harrington, Director of ApprenticeshipNC, North Carolina’s State Apprenticeship Agency. Together, they discuss North Carolina’s rise as an apprenticeship leader, the growth of apprenticeship programs across the state, youth apprenticeship and high school pathways, expanding apprenticeship into new industries and sectors in the state, how other states could...
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A Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway and the Partnerships Behind It
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe and guest co-host Dr. Anastasia Wickham, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Reach University, chat with Kristi Kirschner, Board President of edwell; Tamika Bartley, Success Coach Coordinator, Registered Apprenticeship Program, Sheldon Independent School District in Texas; and Alexandra Perez, Student at Reach University and AVID Tutor Manager transitioning into the role of Teacher Resident at Null Middle School, 6th Grade Reading and Writing, in Sheldon ISD. Together, they discuss what motivated Sheldon ISD to invest in...
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Advancing Apprenticeship in the Rural U.S.: Leading Lessons From Montana
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe chats with Glen Disque, Director of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program; Madeline Boehm, Registered Apprenticeship Program Manager at Health Career Advancement Program (H-CAP); and Zach Boren, Senior Vice President at Apprenticeships for America. Together, they discuss the success and growth of Registered Apprenticeship in Montana, including the immense rise of healthcare apprenticeships; plans to continue the growth of apprenticeship in the state; why rural areas are so ripe for...
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What’s Next for Apprenticeship in the U.S.
Apprenticeship 2.0
In this episode, Joe chats with John Colborn, Executive Director of Apprenticeships for America. Together, they discuss John’s journey in the apprenticeship space, pay-for-performance strategies such as the Trump administration funding for the Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program, AFA’s grading of the administration on its efforts to grow apprenticeship, the impact of apprenticeship in a few successful states and how apprenticeship varies across states, the power of the intermediary in expanding...
info_outlineIn this episode, Joe chats with Dr. Holly Smith, Executive Director and Vice President of Apprenticeship Degree Design at the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree, and Matthew McKenney, President and CEO of JobForward. Together, they discuss the partnership between NCAD and JobForward, why the partnership makes sense and why now is the right time for it, reflections from the International Convening for the Apprenticeship Degree (ICAD) 2025 and what to look forward to at ICAD 2026, how listeners can work with NCAD and JobForward in the future, and much more.
Read Inside Higher Ed’s “The Apprenticeship Wish List” at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2026/06/29/apprenticeship-wish-list.
Music by Evgeny Bardyuzha from Pixabay.